The album “LP” will arrive in the US on July 7th, so mark you calendars!

There are strong elements of both bands (you can really hear Rostam’s harmonies coming in strong); but it’s just a unique and chill sound. You can listen to four tracks off the upcoming album “LP” in the player; so sit back, relax, hit play, and enjoy.

If you care to, you can read a bit more about Day & Age by The Killers at Wikipedia. It’s pretty rad that this album was internationally produced, and received life from el internet:

Work on the album was conducted on an international basis; demos that were made in Las Vegas were sent to producer Price in London over the Internet, who would then call back to discuss the recordings.

Good stuff, hey? I have to say, my favorite song is a toss up between “Human” in which Flowers asks the incredibly weird, and totally cracked out, question of “Are we human? Or are we Dancer?” and “This is Your Life” in which the song starts with what could be mistaken for tribal mating calls.

Check out the video for “Human” and listen to a few more track below. I don’t know where they are in this video, but “I want to go to there.”

If you like this, do the artist a favor — and do me a favor by buying it from Amazon mp3: Day & Age

The Killers – Day & Age – Spaceman:
[See post to listen to audio]

The Killers – Day & Age – This is Your Life
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The Killers – Day & Age – Human
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The Killers – Day & Age – Dustland Fairytale (Wait for this one to get going…really good)
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The Killers – Day & Age – I Can’t Stay (Love the Harmony’s on this track)
[See post to listen to audio]

Don’t forget — if you like this, do the artist a favor — and do me a favor by buying it from Amazon mp3: Day & Age

Good friends with Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer; Rosie Thomas has one of the most beautiful female voices I’ve heard. Very chill — sometimes depressed — and filled with raw lyrics, Rosie Thomas is one of the most underestimated artists I’ve heard.

This song is taken from her “these friends of mine” album, featuring Rosie, Denison, and Sufjan. See if you can figure out who everyone is in this video.

Hailing from Arkansas, they themselves say they’ve been influenced by Death Cab and Mew, and it certainly shows. They sound like a cross between Mae and Mew with a splash of Copeland every now and again–but, they’re certainly not copycats and are carving out their out sound.

After a brief opener, the album begins with a piano driven track entitled “Light as Air” that has a tight baseline driving the beat. I think this song really sets the stage for the rest of the disc. The whole album has walks the line between upbeat and slightly depressed. I love it.

Something else kind of cool (I’m a sucker for this…): keys are played by, Laura Baylock, who is married to Wes Baylock (lead vocalist).

My only complaint against this record is that I want Wes to switch out of falsetto once in awhile and hit the top of his range. That being said, I love the falsetto. And, I can’t get enough of the clean tone of those guitars–so good. Deas Vail just released a new EP, and Wes is really belting it on the few tracks I’ve heard–just verging on a scream, so maybe that’s the direction they’re moving. You can check out a few tracks from the new EP, White Lights, at PureVolume.

Their new album is slated to arrive in 2009. In the meantime, enjoy one of my favorite tracks off “All the Houses Look the Same” entitled, “Rewind” (and don’t forget it will be on the mixtape!)

[See post to listen to audio]

Buy both the “All the houses Look the Same” and “White Lights” at Amazon.

You may remember Derek giving away his album a few years ago and creating quite a splash. Well, you can now download new music by telling just three friends, then you have access to whatever album you’d like.

You can begin right now with this giant widget:

The Album Leaf first broke into the public eye with the album “In a Safe Place.” Tracks from that disc hit The OC, amongst a few other TV shows. That album also consisted of guest appearances by Sigur Ros and Amiina (if you haven’t heard them, check out Sigur Ros here and Amiina here). The most recent disc, “Into the Blue Again” is what inspired this blog post. It’s gorgeous.

After my friend told me about these guys, I listened to a few tracks and then purchased “Into the Blue Again.” I recommend buying this disc as it has quickly become my go to album when I need to think, work, be alone, seek depression or just be happy about life (I know those two seem contradictory; but they’re not). I also just realized the both albums are at the Amazon mp3 store for $7.90 a piece!

Check out “The Light” (this takes awhile to get going–it’s a quiet intro) and “Red Eye” off “Into the Blue Again.”

[See post to listen to audio]

[See post to listen to audio]

This is a really old side project of Jim Atkins from Jimmy Eat World. It’s interesting to note that the first track of “Chase this Light” is actually “Big Casino.” OOOoooo

Go Big Casino – Richmond Again

[See post to listen to audio]

Sigur Ros is one of my favorite bands in the world.

Three rows back, this was the best show I have ever seen in my life. It was probably the only show I would ever label as an “experience.” It visually amazing, and their gorgeous music was even better live. For those of you who don’t know much about Sigur Ros, read on. For those of you who just want to listen to their new album — the whole thing — it’s at the bottom of this post.

Sigur Ros is from Iceland. I first got turned on to them when living and working Mexico. I say that, because it was one of the most physically exhausting jobs I’ve ever had, and every night I would fall asleep to Sigur Ros’ “( )” album. That album enabled more rest — both physically and mentally — than anything else during that time. Track #3 is one of my favorite songs ever.

The “( )” album was written in Hoplandic–a variation of Icelandic that Sigur Ros decided to make up. Most every song that they play, their guitarist plays with a bow rather than a pick. Their drummer has the biggest cymbal’s I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’ve never heard a band more patient than these guys.

They recently created their first film entitled “Heima” which I’m dying to see.

‘heima’ is sigur rós’s first ever film, filmed over two weeks last summer when the band undertook a series of free, unannounced concerts in iceland. they hauled 40-plus people round 15 locations to the furthest flung corners of their homeland for their debut venture into live film, to create something, well, inspirational.

If you have never heard them, start with the ( ) album. Takk is also absolutely amazing, so that’s a good place to start as well. The new album, “Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust,” arrives in the US on June 24.

Have a listen to the whole album below. It’s really, really different than their old stuff. Including a few songs in English! It’s quite a bit more upbeat.

Last.FM hasn’t quite figured out their Widget yet, so you’ll have to click on each song individually rather than just click the big “Play” button. I recommend popping it out in a separate window for an un-interrupted playing experience.

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I can prove it…

Just click the play buttons, this is the full album in it’s proper order.

Life in Technicolor
[See post to listen to audio]
Cemeteries of London
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Lost!
[See post to listen to audio]
42
[See post to listen to audio]
Lovers in Japan
[See post to listen to audio]
Yes
[See post to listen to audio]
Viva La Vida
[See post to listen to audio]
Violet Hill
[See post to listen to audio]
Strawberry Swing
[See post to listen to audio]
Death And All His Friends
[See post to listen to audio]

Now go buy it from Amazon!

Also, check out my mixtape for other great bands and streaming tunes.

Whaddya think of the new disc people? Especially you, oh Coldplay hater.

Viva La Vida:

[See post to listen to audio]

So, the aforementioned iTunes commercial inspired me to buy the new Coldplay single Viva La Vida.

It’s a bit new for Coldplay…I mean when have we heard a string’s based song from them? And church bells? But, it’s not pretentious, it’s not annoying, it’s just really pretty. And daddy like…

The lyrics suggest some humility as well. It sounds a bit like they’re wrestling with their new found fame. I remember an interview with Coldplay right when X&Y came out. They said that for the first time in their life, they were experiencing Coldplay-Hate. Before then, they were just a small band that had a loyal following. Then, they exploded and all the haters showed up. This song seems to be a continuation of that struggle.

Additionally, I just heard another track off Coldplay’s disc. It’s call “Lost!”

It’s kind of the their major key, piano driven ballad that they’re so good at. The big difference, however, is that the song never really picks up. It just stays the piano, and Martin. Martin and Piano. Mano y Mano.

You can listen to Lost! on this tiny little Hype Machine player: